OFFICE OF FAIR
TRADING News Release (73/08) issued by The Government News Network
on 16 June 2008
The Office of Fair
Trading has today launched its first ever education sector
resource, with a new consumer education toolkit for teachers. This
reflects the importance that the OFT places on helping to build
skills and confidence amongst consumers to support them in dealing
with businesses and making purchases.
The toolkit, 'Skilled to go', is a free online resource
that uses everyday consumer situations, such as choosing a mobile
phone package or shopping online, as the basis to develop consumer
skills, knowledge and confidence.
The OFT developed the
toolkit with LLU+ at London South Bank University, one of the
UK's leading experts in literacy, numeracy and language. It
is designed for use by teachers in further education settings
including colleges, community education and offender learning to
support learners on literacy and numeracy courses.
'Skilled to go' is a flexible learning resource which
is easy to use and can be incorporated into existing class
material or used on its own. The activities can be customised
according to learner ability and the teachers' notes for each
module include information on consumer rights so that teachers can
feel confident in delivering the content.
'Skilled to go' currently has three modules: Buying and
selling, Technology, and Utilities, and is available in variations
for England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to reflect
the legal differences in each of the countries as well as relevant
geographic examples and websites.
The launch follows a successful trial of the toolkit at City and
Islington College in London and Glasgow College of Nautical
Studies. The OFT will be reviewing and updating the toolkit
regularly to keep the content up to date.
Sam Brew, OFT Consumer Education Manager, said:
'Signing up to a new mobile phone package or switching
energy supplier, for example, can be daunting tasks. Buyers have
to weigh up a whole range of options against their own needs,
check the small print and know their rights if something goes wrong.
'One of the OFT's most important tasks is to help
consumers deal effectively with businesses and make informed
buying decisions, both so that they get a good deal, and to ensure
that markets across the UK function efficiently. This first step
into the education sector reflects our desire to find new ways to
help build consumers' skills, especially amongst more
vulnerable groups, whether they are aged 16 or 80.'
During June and July the OFT and LLU+ will be running free
workshops in London, Manchester, Cardiff, and Glasgow to introduce
teachers to the toolkit. Further details can be found on the OFT
website: http://www.oft.gov.uk/skilledtogo
NOTES
1. Photographs of the toolkit pilot and interviews are available.
For more details contact the OFT press office.
2. To book a place at one of the free workshop events, contact
Trevor Jones at LLU+ on 0207 7815 6260 or jonest2@lsbu.ac.uk.
Dates and locations:
* Wednesday 25 June, Palace Hotel, Oxford
Road, Manchester
* Monday 30 June, Cardiff Marriott Hotel,
Mill Lane, Cardiff
* Tuesday 1 July, LLU+ London South Bank
University, London
* Wednesday 2 July, LLU+ London South Bank
University, London
* Friday 4 July, Radisson SAS Hotel, Argyle
Street, Glasgow
3. 'Skilled to go' was piloted in two further education
colleges during January to March 2008. Staff and students on
literacy, numeracy and ESOL courses at Glasgow College of Nautical
Studies in Glasgow and at City and Islington College in London
trialed the materials and gave their suggestions for how the
content could be improved. LLU+ and OFT revised 'Skilled to
go' for the launch, taking on board this feedback. A full
evaluation report of the pilot project will be available later in
summer 2008.
4. The OFT's consumer education work supports people in
becoming more confident, assertive consumers who can help to
promote competitive markets by demanding high standards from
business. OFT has developed Skilled to go to support the
OFT's consumer education strategy, which aims to give
consumers the skills and knowledge to function confidently,
effectively and responsibly when buying goods and services.
5. LLU+ at South Bank University is a national consultancy and
professional development centre for staff working in the areas of
literacy, numeracy, dyslexia, family learning and English for
Speakers of Other Languages. http://www.lsbu.ac.uk/lluplus/
http://www.oft.gov.uk
PUBLIC enquiries: 0845 7224499 enquiries@oft.gov.uk
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